I was off traveling for a few days, and while it’s annoying that my MdDS symptoms have kicked back up a bit and I’m waiting for the earth to settle, it was also good to get away from the desk and do fun things. I had every intention of writing on the plane, but I also had a copy of Every Heart a Doorway, and sometimes reading > writing. (It’s a gorgeously dark story, read it.)

I actually don’t think it’s bad at all to read instead of write sometimes. How else would we know what good writing looks like? And why would we even want to write our own stories if we hadn’t grown up loving other people’s stories? Every book offers a chance to learn more about the craft. Sure, it’s research. But it’s fun research.

As I traveled, every so often, I noticed someone else wearing a Star of David necklace or a hamsa. I might not have looked for those signs before—not because it wasn’t important, but because I’ve spent so much of my life being the only Jew in the room that I’m used to it. But seeing those little bits of jewelry, quiet acknowledgments that you are not the only one and you are not alone, it gave my heart a lift. I hope they saw my hamsa necklace, and it made them feel the same way.

Now that I’m post-holiday post-vacation, it’s back to writing. I revised my creepy horror-in-a-mall short story, and once that’s back out seeking a home, I can focus on the quirky MG cryptid novel I didn’t work on during my flight. In between finishing up interviews for a magazine article. Here’s to productive days ahead.

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I can’t tell how much charitable organizations are able to help right now. Some of the groups below haven’t updated their websites since December, or even earlier. But I’m listing them anyway on the chance that they are still getting aid to people in Gaza and in Israel. Please help if you can. Stay well and stay safe.

Project HOPE offers training and support to health care workers and health care services around the world; it’s helping coordinate delivery of needed equipment, supplies, and services to people in Israel and Gaza

The Alliance for Middle East Peace is a coalition that works to build trust between Israelis and Palestinians; it’s creating emergency shelters, collecting donations, and offering support in other ways

The UN’s World Food Programme supplies food and vouchers to people in Gaza and the West Bank

IsraAID is the largest humanitarian aid group in Israel, according to its site, and it responds to crises worldwide; it’s helping with humanitarian activities and mental health support for Israeli evacuees

The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund has been sending food, water, and medical supplies into Gaza

Sulala Animal Rescue is the only animal rescue shelter in Gaza; it’s raising funds through Animals Australia

National Council of Jewish Women is a women- and family-centered social justice group that’s raising funds to provide basic needs, counseling, and advocacy for women and families impacted by the Hamas attack

Women Wage Peace is a women-led, nonpartisan grassroots group that advocates for a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

World Central Kitchen is feeding displaced families in Israel and working with a local partner in Gaza to distribute meals to Palestinians

Soroka Medical Center is handling the emergency medical response in Israel

The JDC helps Jews and others in crisis around the world

Save the Children is trying to get needed supplies into Gaza

American Friends of Magen David Adom is Israel’s first aid/first responder service

United Hatzalah is a volunteer emergency medical services organization that operates across Israel

Americares is trying to assist with people’s medical needs in Gaza

Doctors Without Borders is trying to assist with people’s medical needs in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross is providing medical supplies and household items to people in Gaza and trying to help people in Israel locate missing family members